From: WmSievers@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2000 12:33 AM
To: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: RE: Docket No. 99F-1912
12/11/2000
Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
RE: Docket No. 99F-1912
Dear FDA:
I object to the Food and Drug Administration's decision to allow the use of
ultraviolet radiation to "treat" fruit and vegetable juice. Irradiation has
the potential to adversely affect the health of my family.
Specifically, I object because:
(1) The company that applied for the irradiation permit admits that UV
radiation destroys 48 percent of the beta carotene and 13 percent of the
vitamin C in orange juice. The FDA ignored warnings from agency scientists
who urged that more tests on nutrient destruction should be conducted and
analyzed before the permit was approved.
(2) The FDA did not determine a safe level of radiation to which juice can be
exposed and still be safe for human consumption, as federal law requires.
(3) The FDA conducted no independent analysis to determine the potential
toxicity of the new chemicals formed in irradiated juice.
(4) The company that applied for the irradiation permit offered to prevent
the release of smog-forming ozone during the irradiation process. The FDA
freed the company of this restriction, however, despite warnings from an FDA
scientist that "ozone can have deleterious health effects on humans who may
be exposed to it (e.g. via inhalation), and may have undesirable effects on
organoleptic qualities of the juice."
I respectfully demand you reevaluate this decision. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
William H. Sievers
322 Laverne Ave.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
wmsievers@aol.com